This episode centers on two films that both take place in the 1950’s. And while Pawel Pawlkikowski’s last movie was called “Ida”, in “Stan & Ollie”, Stan Laurel’s wife is named Ida. That’s about the extent of the films commonalities. That and the directors of both “Ida” and “Cold War” both appear on this episode.
Academy Award winning director Pawel Pawlikowski (“The Woman in the Fifth”) returns —he was last on Episode 263 to the show with his new film, “Cold War”, a passionate love story between a man and a woman who meet in the ruins of post-war Poland. With vastly different backgrounds and temperaments, they are fatefully mismatched and yet condemned to each other. Set against the background of the Cold War in 1950s Poland, Berlin, Yugoslavia and Paris, it’s the tale of a couple separated by politics, character flaws and unfortunate twists of fate, an impossible love story in impossible times. “Cold War” earned Pawel Pawlikowski the Best Director award at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and is Poland’s Official Submission for Foreign Language Film Competition for the 91st Academy Awards®. It opens in theaters Friday, December 21st.
Jon S. Baird (“Filth”) makes his first appearance on the podcast with his third feature film, “Stan & Ollie” about the world famous comedy due Laurel and Hardy. One of the world’s great comedy teams, Stan and Ollie set out on a variety hall tour of Britain in 1953. Diminished by age and with their golden era as the kings of Hollywood comedy now behind them, they face an uncertain future. As the charm and beauty of their performances shines through, they re-connect with their adoring fans. The tour becomes a hit, but Stan (Steve Coogan) & Ollie (John C. Reilly) can’t quite shake the specter of Laurel and Hardy’s past; the long-buried ghosts, coupled with Oliver’s failing health, start to threaten their precious partnership. A portrait of the most tender and poignant of creative marriages, they are aware that they may be approaching their swan song, trying to rediscover just how much they mean to each other. “Stan & Ollie” was selected as closing night film at the BFI London Film Festival 2018. It opens in theaters on Friday, December 28th.
